Gestalt Therapy - Essay Example

I am a twenty-two male by the name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx from (home address). We live with my parents and siblings as well as two cousins in the same home. Currently, I have no job and am mainly concentrating on my studies but previously I volunteered at a community resource center where I assisted in the center’s programs focusing on the youth. Characteristics that I can say are outstanding include being introverted and less outgoing. I don’t hang out with friends long and am very selective in terms of the friends I interact with and I don’t open up to friends on personal issues.

I started thinking a lot a few months ago and was diagnosed with depression, I was put on prescription depression drugs to improve my mood but this has not changed. The problem has compounded as I tend to look down at myself and in fact, am not taking the depression drugs any longer. This is the sole reason for my decision to seek psychiatric therapy. The problem at the moment is presenting with characteristics that include having difficulties relating with other people even relatives, and little satisfaction with myself as well as what others perceive me for. Am frequently having conflicts and this is further heightening the stress and life changes. The theory chosen for my problem is Gestalt therapy mainly because the theory focuses on individual awareness.

Gestalt therapy emphasizes the importance of awareness and the method distinguishes acting, perceiving, or feeling from interpretation and reshuffling of pre-existing attitudes. Dialogue of perspectives for both therapists and their patients is important and the focus is on differences in terms of perspectives. The goal is for the patient to be aware of what he is doing, how he is doing it, how to change, and also learn to self-value and accept.  Focus is on whatever is taking place with an emphasis on what the client is doing, thinking, and feeling at the present moment. Basic concepts in gestalt therapy include phenomenology, perspective, existential perspective, and dialogue between the client and therapist. Four types of dialogue are emphasized which are inclusion, commitment to dialogue presence and dialogue lived.

For successful implementation of this therapy as a therapist, I would focus on creating patient awareness of self, leading them to appreciate what is currently happening and how to change their personal perception of self in order to value themselves better. The therapeutic relationship will entail a committed dialogue with the client without judgment; ensure contact with the client which assures full support. The initial session will involve screening and finding out from the patient what is happening, what their fears are, and what their imagination is like. Then I would move to help them understand what is actually taking place, how they should react, and how they should perceive themselves in a manner that is not derogatory. This will be followed by a session every week until when I see a positive outcome in the patient’s situation. The goals of therapy in the short term would be for the client to gain self-awareness by understanding what is happening and forgetting what is not important for their well-being. In the long term, the patient should be able to learn how to deal with the environment, accept what is happening and value himself. My case fits human concepts as we are social beings interacting with the environment around and the theory teaches us to deal with the environment.

In conclusion therefore gestalt therapy is one important aspect of psychiatric therapy. It helps clients gain self-awareness focusing on constructive dialogue between the practitioner and his client as well as differences in perspectives between the two. The client should be able to gain awareness and value as well as accept himself. What is happening is important and not what was or might happen.